'Dark Shadows' about family and blood

Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows” is at times creepy, funny and just flat out strange. While there isn’t anything particularly standout in the film, it is a pleasant way to spend about two hours.

The film is a remake of the soap opera that ran from 1966 to 1971 on ABC. It follows the Collins family from England to America and through the curse of Barnabas Collins who becomes a vampire through the spell of a spurned witch, Angelique Bouchard. His love, under Bouchard’s spell, kills herself. Collins is grabbed by the townspeople and buried for 196 years. When he is finally freed, it is 1972, and he has to deal with the new realities of changes both far ranging and at home, where his family is no longer affluent and the town is run by Bouchard.

Johnny Depp does a good job with the character of Collins – a vampire who is out of his time and who is truly sorry that he has to kill. The rest of the cast is able to match Depp’s character portrayal, with Chloe Grace Moretz having surprising screen presence as the daughter, Carolyn Stoddard, of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Elizabeth Stoddard Collins.

There was some foul language and Barnabas Collins and Bouchard share a more acrobatic sex scene than has ever been filmed while the actors still have their clothes on. Oh,and the killing – there was some killing though very little of it graphically portrayed on the screen.

The film emphasizes the value of family. As Barnabas’ main theme both growing up and when he returns from his coffin, family is what is important. A good message even when delivered by the likes of Depp as a vampire and Burton.